The Special Military Command under the Ministry of Defense of the National Unity Government (NUG) will conduct joint operations to prevent the terrorist military council from holding illegal elections, according to Special Military Command Commander Comrade Aung San Shyar. The Special Military Command was established in January 2025, based in Karen and Mon States, and is organized with People’s Defense Force (PDF) strategic commands, battalions/units, drone armed forces, and People’s Defense Teams. Currently, it is conducting military operations and territorial control activities in parts of Bago Region along with KNU/KNLA forces in Karen State, Mon State, and Ye-Dawei areas, in cooperation with Bago Regional Military Command and Yangon Regional Military Command.
The Special Military Command is composed of five PDF strategic commands in the southern region: Strategy 27, Strategy 32, Strategy 33, Strategy 36, and Strategy 37. Its battalions include Battalion 7801, Battalion 7802, Battalion 7804, Battalion 7805, Cobra Battalion, Black Tiger Battalion, Dauna Battalion, Taung Nyo Battalion, Southern Eagle Battalion, White Dragon Battalion, and SOG Battalion. Additionally, it includes 1801 Drone Battalion, SDDF Special Drone Force, Rain Ni Special Drone Force, and Cloud Wings Special Drone Force. Under the operational control of the Special Military Command, there are three PDF battalions and two drone units pending official Defense Ministry battalion codes, as well as Mon People’s Defense Teams, Yangon People’s Defense Teams, and Bago District People’s Defense Teams working in coordination.
The Special Operations Forces (SOF), which is the strike force of the People’s Defense Force General Headquarters, has deployed troops in Karen State, Mon State, and Bago Region under the operational control of Operation Commander No. 1, conducting joint operations with the Special Military Command. The command structure includes a Commander, Deputy Commander, Operations Officer, Military Officer, Logistics Officer, Military Intelligence Officer, Public Security Officer, Office Team Leader, and five Strategy Commanders who closely manage and administer troops within the operational area.
